Red Cross: Allow my sister to attend our grandfather's funeral

Earlier this morning, our grandfather, Orin Carver, passed away. My little sister, Kristina Carver, is stationed aboard the USS Rushmore, headed toward a war zone. Not only did our grandfather serve in the Navy, he's the one that convinced Kristina to serve our country. But we're being told she can't attend his funeral.

Kristina's husband called the Red Cross's emergency communication services for service members abroad. They told him they would help get her home to grieve, and our whole family was elated. It would mean so much to have Kristina home for the funeral.

But then we received another call saying that, sadly, our request was denied because our grandfather is not considered "immediate" family. But to us, he was a father figure. We grew up in a single-parent home. While our dad was working countless hours to pay bills, feed us, and put clothes on our backs, our grandparents were raising us, a total of seven girls. Our grandparents were not "extended" family; they were most definitely "immediate" and our Grandfather was most definitely a father.

Please help us get our sister home so she can mourn the loss of a sailor, a hero, and a parent.

Thank You and God Bless, The Carver Girls

Letter to

Senior Vice President, Service to the Armed ForcesSherri L. Brown

Command Master Chief, USS RushmoreCMDCM (SW/AW) Foy M. Harris

American Red Cross

Kristina Carver, is stationed aboard the USS Rushmore, headed toward a war zone. Earlier this morning, her Grandfather, Orin Carver, passed away. After being told the Red Cross would help get her home to grieve, sadly that was denied because he is not considered "immediate" family. But what you don't know, is that she grew up in a single-parent home. While her dad was working countless hours to pay bills, feed her, and put clothes on her back, her grandparents were raising the entire family, a total of seven girls. Her grandparents were not "extended" family; they were most definitely "immediate" and our Grandfather was most definitely a father. Not only did he serve in the Navy, he's the one that convinced Kristina to serve our country.. the very country that does not have exceptions to what is considered a "Traditional Family Unit". Please help us get her home so she can mourn the loss of a sailor, a hero, and a parent.